Monday, March 28, 2016

Gov. Robert Bentley pressured law enforcement to target Legal Schnauzer and Donald Watkins in an effort to silence reporting on Rebekah Mason affair


Robert Bentley: From sex scandal to criminal misuse
of law-enforcement resources.
(From apr.com)
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley pressured law-enforcement officers to target me and attorney Donald Watkins for our Web-based reporting on the governor's extramarital affair with senior adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason, according to a report this morning at Alabama Political Reporter (APR).

APR publisher Bill Britt said sources told him that Bentley's actions were a glaring violation of law, and these matters (and others) currently are part of a criminal investigation. From today's article:

Gov. Robert Bentley pressured law enforcement officers to use federal and state resources to target those critical of his relationship with senior advisor Rebekah Caldwell Mason, according to high ranking officers and staff.

In an effort to find potentially damaging information on those who spoke out against the couple, Bentley instructed top law enforcement agents to investigate private citizens, in direct conflict with the law, said those close to the matter. (These individuals spoke on background to alreporter.com because of a criminal investigation surrounding this and other matters).

Two individuals with detailed knowledge of the incidents say Bentley ordered the use of the National Crime Information Center, (NCIC) and the Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS) to find any incriminating evidence that might be used against attorney Donald V. Watkins, and Legal Schnauzer blogger Roger Shuler.

I broke the story of the Bentley/Mason affair here at Legal Schnauzer on August 31, 2015. The story exploded on the national scene last week when Spencer Collier, former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), told reporters he had seen and heard direct evidence of an inappropriate relationship between the governor and his aide. That story quickly was followed by the release of audio recordings that had Bentley talking about touching Mason's breasts from behind, reaching "under" her to apparently touch her behind and the area between her legs, and stating more than a dozen times that he loved her.

Watkins, at his Facebook page, published a multi-part series titled "Forbidden Love: Robert Bentley's Secret Love Affair." (See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.) Here are just a few of the details Watkins' reporting added to the story:

The Governor’s relationship with Rebekah Mason raised eyebrows around the Capitol and with Mrs. Bentley. Rebekah Mason was quickly emerging as the Governor’s voice on any important speech or comment made by him during his first term. In time, Rebekah Mason would run the state of Alabama through her special personal relationship with Bentley.

By July 2013, Rebekah Mason had moved out of the governor’s office to serve as the communications director for Bentley’s re-election campaign. After the election, she became Bentley’s “Senior Political Advisor”. The two became inseparable. Bentley fell in love with Rebekah Mason. She became his paramour. After achieving paramour status, Mason had unfettered access to state trooper transportation, the state aircraft, the Governor’s mansion, and a host of other state resources and privileges typically reserved for the First Lady.

In an interview with Bill Britt, Watkins said he was not surprised to be receiving special attention from the governor. Writes Britt:

In an interview with alreporter.com Watkins said, “I knew he was targeting me, I have known for years that Bentley was upset by my public criticism of his administration and his policies.”

Watkins said Bentley first targeted him in 2013 using banking regulators: “We came under excessive regulatory review and are still under excessive regulatory review,” said Watkins.

He said in 2014 Bentley asked the SEC to investigate his businesses, even through they are not under SEC regulation. “That investigation went nowhere,” said Watkins.

But again, in 2015, Bentley sought a criminal investigation, according to Watkins, “I provided the investigators with all the documentation and that case was close within 30 days.”

“Every case started with a hint or a suggestion of impropriety on my part by Bentley’s Office and each case went nowhere,” said Watkins.

ALEA was twice asked to conduct a criminal investigation into Watkins, this has been confirmed by law enforcement officers.

As for me, I should not be surprised at anything, given all my wife, Carol, and I have been through since first encountering rocky legal waters in Shelby County some 16 years ago. I've been arrested and thrown in jail for five months; we lost our home of 25 years to a foreclosure that almost certainly was wrongful; we were evicted from an apartment in our new "home" of Springfield, Missouri, even though we had filed an appeal that put an automatic stay on the proceedings; during the eviction process, I watched three deputies surround Carol as she tried to retrieve some of our personal belongings, slamming her to the ground and yanking on her arms so violently that it badly bruised one and broke the other in a way that required trauma surgery for repair.

Washington Post report about
The White House Plumbers
(From Washington Post)

Despite all of that, Bill Britt's report has left me in a state of . . . well, I guess you could call it "dumbfoundedness." It's well established by now that Robert Bentley is a creep and a phony, but I did not see him as fundamentally evil. But today's news suggests Bentley has stooped to a Nixonian level of political chicanery. Carol and I have periodically wondered aloud to each other--somewhat in jest--if our e-mail and cell phone are secure, if someone has gone through our personal financial and health records, if someone has influenced one-time friends (even family members) to harm us or work against us.

The answer to all of those questions now appears to be yes. And God only knows what else Bentley and his henchmen have been up to. We long have thought our No. 1 enemies were associated with former Governor Bob Riley and his son, Rob "Uday Hussein" Riley. We have little doubt that the Rileys reside in an "ethics-free zone" where they re convinced they can get away with most anything. But it now seems the Bible-thumping Robert Bentley is every bit as crazed as are the Rileys.

From Bill Britt's article:

The Alabama Political Reporter has already confirmed the US Department of Justice is investigating the firings at ALEA, and if actions against Collier and others were part of a cover-up orchestrated by Bentley and Mason.

Shuler, on his site Legal Schnauzer, has written numerous articles on Bentley and Mason. In an August 2015 post he wrote, “Rebekah Caldwell Mason, a married mother of three from Bentley’s home base of Tuscaloosa, was the governor’s mistress in an affair that sources say raises a number of possible legal issues–including use of the state jet and a state trooper’s services for personal reasons that had nothing to do with Bentley’s official role.” He also wrote, “[S]ources say, quickly became more than just a communications director to Bentley. Their affair became so widely known that it diluted any moral authority the governor might have had. He’s been impotent as governor for at least the last six months,” one source told Legal Schnauzer. “People have been going into his office and saying, ‘Do what I want or I’m going to play the girlfriend card.’”

While the media’s and public’s attention has been primary focused on the alleged affair, Bentley’s real problems are the issues before law enforcement.

As president, Richard Nixon had a special investigative unit called The White House Plumbers, Their role was to stop media leaks and harass or punish perceived enemies of the administration. Has Dr. Robert Bentley, the mild-mannered dermatologist from Tuscaloosa, morphed into that kind of political crook?

It sure looks that way from here--where we apparently have been one of his targets for quite some time.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Unreal. My jaw is on the floor, and I can't get it up.

Anonymous said...

Blows my mind. And makes me think Bentley has lost is mind.

Anonymous said...

History tells us that the Camperdown, with Bentley on board, sank the Victoria, with Riley on board. The Camperdown did not sink. It is possible that the crew threw the
cat-o-nine tails overboard to increase buo'yancy'. Meanwhile the Eliza Battle,with Hubbard on board, continues to paddle in circles.

Anonymous said...

I informed you this year with a anonymous comment, that I suspected your phone was monitored, because of an event that happened to me,after I had talked to you on the phone.

legalschnauzer said...

Can you provide details about the event that happened to you after you and I had talked on the phone?

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking Bentley/Mason had someone connected to state or fed law enforcement carry out your eviction, which led to Carol's broken arm. It's a miracle you weren't both permanently injured or even killed.

legalschnauzer said...

I agree with you, @12:57. That would mean some sort of Alabama-Missouri connection, that Alabama thugs followed us up here--and they had help from someone on the Missouri scene. I've suspected that for quite some time, and this adds a major level of supportive evidence.

Anonymous said...

If "Doctor Love" Bentley caused my wife's arm to be broken, I think I would break his f----n neck.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Just wow. I think you've certainly found something to write about/investigate for quite some time, LS. This affects everyone in the state of Alabama. Keep up the reporting on this. It gets more bizarre every story I read!

Anonymous said...

http://lagniappemobile.com/legal-schnauzer-now-yapping-bentley-affair/

*Crickets chirping*

legalschnauzer said...

Rob Holbert, the publisher of Lagniappe, used to work for Trent Lott. That might explain a lot.

Anonymous said...

12;35 here. In Nov 2009, I requested by way of the FOIA a deannexation Auburn had made. The woman at the the Justice Dept. asked me why I wanted it.I told her it possibly contains property, that was secretly deannexed. She said she would call me back. She called back and read out the different parcels. I told her which ones I was interested in. She informed me to write on a piece of paper, I request submission xyz and fax it to her. A week later I recieved a confirmation number and contact information. After one year of waiting, I called. They informed me that they were very busy, but I would recieve it eventually. After two years of waiting, I called again. They informed me that the material I requested had been lost. After three and one half years of waiting , I called you.(in Shelby Co) We talked a little about the Bingo Trial. I mentioned Brenda Morris and you stated your curiosity of her being in Alabama. Five days after I talked to you, the deannexation request arrives. The parcels I had mentioned were not included. I firmily believe you have been the subject of illegal wire tapping.

Anonymous said...

If Rebekah Mason has been the "de facto" governor, is it possible she ordered the surveillance and harassment against you and the missus?

legalschnauzer said...

That sounds like a reasonable possibility to me, @1:49. Makes you wonder just how power hungry and desperate Rebekah Mason might be.

legalschnauzer said...

Thanks for sharing, @12:35. I remember our phone conversation. Curious timing in all of this, to be sure.

Anonymous said...

Very concerning to see the pieces come together (at least partially) the past few months. You must have been getting odd emails and phone calls on top of everything else, tactics designed to cause stress and confusion. I wonder how much the recent noise around the cheating lawyers was designed to throw you off bigger fish?

Anonymous said...

Roger, I wouldn't expect an apology from none of these clowns in the mainstream. You deserve one for what its worth. They'll continue on kissing ass, lieing to the public, ruining our country, and drawing a paycheck.

Anonymous said...

Rob Hilbert lacks your credentials, intelligence and balls. Plus. He is a weasel and a hack. His publication is not serious, nor is taken seriously. Rob has a history of being wrong.

Anonymous said...

Bentley is going down like a two dollar Montgomery whore...

Anonymous said...

Was curious why Lagniappe so quickly lost it's value as a serious news source, and the Lott/Republican connection to publication makes perfect sense. Recalling, hmm... why did Lott resign the Senate and what was his Mississippi brother-in-law Ricky Scruggs charged with? I believe more of Lott's family jumped into the Lobby rackets to prosper and grow.

(Wonder when the "conservative" Bible Belt will wake up and smell the coffee burning.)

And.... was the Business Council of Alabama where the cell phone was misplaced or found–– the one with erotic Bentley/Mason messages? Well isn't Business Council a Republican/ Billy and Leura Canary's outfit or design? What a nice little clique!! And with so much power and money!!!

Watch out, Roger: YES THEY WILL CROSS STATE LINES. They're connected remember: at the top of any pyramid all the stones will touch or closely relate. NEVER, EVER, EVER forget it.

Now with the sun shining on all of this, maybe they'll stop working on you and Carol. Sadly if anything can stop it, this is it.

Truth ––– Amazing Grace!

Anonymous said...

Suddenly it's the MSM that look like Bentley a$$licker$ and enablers.

Brings to mind a famous movie line.

"Captain Ramirez: The chicken is in the pot, over."

It just might be that the Bently pot is coming to a boil.

On a serious note I would suggest that you consider the possibility that private operators outside LE might have been used to surveil and or target "enemies" of this administration. Have the existence of the necessary funding mechanisms for something like this already been disclosed?

Anonymous said...

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion

Yet to be determined- What was the first deception in the Bentley Mason web of deception?

Who was really behind offering up Bentley to the voters of Alabama as a gubernatorial candidate? I don't believe it was either Mason.

Anonymous said...

There is hope, at the age of 60 something. The more I read the more, or should I say less impotent I [feel].

Anonymous said...

I say we make a wager and Free Don Siegelman and not give this nice granddaddy 10 years which he should in comparison to what Siegelman. Bring back Fuller to dish out on him. There probably won't even be a mention about Siegelman anywhere about the mainstream. At the end of the day this will make Siegelman prosecution look corrupt as hell. He'll get and ankle bracelet.

Republicans all yell praise Jesus on Sunday and yell crucify him on Monday.

Anonymous said...

You should feel lucky that they didn't put your ass in jail, then run you out of the state, but wait, they did do that. I fear nothing will come from all this, at least not in this world. They need to understand, that in the end, what goes around, will one day come back around. You are years ahead all the other so call news reporters. Thanks for being brave and standing up for the truth.

legalschnauzer said...

Who was behind offering up Bentley to the voters as a gubernatorial candidate? That's a heck of a question, @4:04. My best guess is Paul Bryant Jr. Would welcome guesses/insights from others.

If it was Bryant, what did he gain from it. My impression is that Bryant doesn't do anything unless there is personal gain in it for him.

That might explain Bentley's arrogance. With the Bryant name, and Crimson Nation behind him, Bentley probably thought he could get away with anything.

Don't know about Mason, but Jessica Garrison definitely has links to Bryant. And in her Marie Claire hit piece against me, Garrison tried to link herself to Mason.

Anonymous said...

I think Bentley will be pushed out soon.

Fair Hope of Success said...

Paul Jr may have put him up, but he never would have made it through the primary without AEA crossing over to prevent Byrne from getting the nomination. Be careful what you ask for, it may be much worse than you think!

e.a.f. said...

Bentley must have lost his mind or his sense of entitlement just grew to such an extent he thought he was God. it happens. Old men/Younger woman, almost never turns out well.

She gets thrown under the bus and looses a source of income. Children will suffer at school.

he looses his family, and eventually his political career, all because he had become old and wanted to get laid by a younger woman. It would have been better if he'd just gone to Vegas.

Unknown said...

Unfortunately, this type of criminal intent is prolific in our nation and it has a name > "Organized Stalking". It is also known as "Government Sponsored Stalking". When corporations do it, it is called "Organized Corporate Stalking". The people who are targeted are called "targeted individuals". These organized stalking tactics are actually well thought out in most cases. They are referred to as "programs". The programs are well oiled machine of tactics, harassment, surveillance, intrusions into homes, tainting of food, refreshments, destruction of personal property including electronics, vandalism, covert and overt aggressive stalking, wire tapped phones, hacked e-mails, computer shadowing via the internet and harm done via directed energy weapons > via computer. These programs are being implemented more and more and seemingly have become quite the business and an effective tool in destroying a person professionally, physically, personally, financially. There will be attempts to destroy the reputation of the target via the creation of malicious and false files that are spread by people hired to go on foot to neighbors, employers and family members too. The tactics do sometime include cooperation from government agencies and law enforcement. Yes! The person targeted will naturally speak out against what is happening to them, as Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote has done, but the government will not admit to their crimes and certainly, when corporations are doing this, it is almost impossible to stop them or prove that they are behind the crimes.
People are targeted for various reasons... being a whistle-blower will almost certainly put you into the "program". Injured workers also may wind up targeted by the defense law firm, employer and insurance carrier. Their resources are endless and they have the power to implement the most horrific tactics against people including having injured workers intentionally maimed during work comp medical procedures.
Our government has cruelly and intentionally targeted Catherine Englebrecht because she created "True the Vote". She is a conservative but the organization that she created was created to insure that voting was accurate. Look up Catherine's video on Youtube and listen to her presentation before Congress.
The fact is that our country is corrupted by corporate money, rogue government officials, employers who are vengeful against injured workers.
For more information on what happens to injured workers who are "placed into the organized stalking program" go to "Crimes Against Injured Workers" on Facebook.
Organized stalking has become a business. Private investigation firms also implement tactics against people they are hired to stalk.
Robert Bentley got caught! But there are MANY more government officials, law enforcement agencies, the CIA, NSA, FBI and corporations all seem to have their hands dirty. To defend themselves, the typical response is to say that what the target is going through is a conspiracy theory. That is just an attempt to dismiss the accusations against them.
For more information on "organized stalking" and the harassment and often times, heinous crimes that are facilitated against "targeted individuals" go to "People Against Covert Torture and Surveillance" @ http://www.pactsntl.org/

Robby Scott Hill said...

Hell yeah, Cecilia is right on! If I didn't know better, I would swear I'm living in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Alabamastan. ALEA is an American NKVD.

Anonymous said...

And I still don't think anything will be done to Bentley for all the pain and aggravation that he has caused the people of Ala.